Cylinders of uniflow steam engines



H. FILLING.

CYLlNDERS 0F UNIFLOW STEAM ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1918- 1,415,697. Pat nt d May 9, 19 2.

[23:2 D 4 4 J f UNITED sures PATENT orrlcs.

HENRY PILLING, or CHORLTON-CUM-HARDY; ENGLAND.

l Application filed July 8,

To all; 1076072?) amay concern lie it known that I, TTENRY PILLING, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Chorlton-cumdlardy, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Cylinders oi llnillow Steam Engines, oi which the following is a specification. H

The inventionrelatesto cylinders oit' steam engines of the nniflowtype and more particularly to the construction of the central exhaust belt of such cylinders with the object ofproviding means by which the condition of the cylinder and the parts within the cylinder can be ascertained without the necessity tor partially dismantling the engine. The amount of labour and the dur tion 0? stoppage of theengine for such in spection are thereby greatly reduced.

According to the invention, the exhaust belt in the middle of the cylinder, at which point the steam pressure and temperature are low and the risk of distortion and leakage is at a minimum, is constructed in two parts, namely, a fixed belt and a closure or dOOr :for an aperture formed therein, both parts forming sections of the cylinder wall traversed by the piston and being so related and secured relatively to each other as to permit ready inspection or actual access to the interior of. the cylinder and accurate re-jointing of the parts. The construction is such that on removal of one part a clear through way, opening into the cylinder, is obtained through which the interior of the wall and of both ends of the cylinder, the

piston barrel and rings, and both ends of the piston can be inspected, the clearance between piston and cylinder ascertained. and, in the case of large engines, actual entrance by a workman into the cylinder obtained.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an example of a construction in which means according to the invention are provided for inspecting or for obtaining access to the interior of a cylinder.

Fig. 1 is a partial central axial section through a cylinder of the. type described showing the two parts of the central exhaust belt; Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1, but with the removable closure or door of the central belt and its cover re moved and with an optical device :for illumi- Specification of Letters Patent.

CYLINDERS OF UNIFLOW STEAM ENGINES.

Patented May 9, 1922. 1913. Serial No. 243,905.

necessary that there should be a steam tight o1nt at this part and it is suflicient if the ledge ailords suiiicient seating to the door to prevent any possibility of displacement during the workingof the engine.

The part A is held in contact with the ledge Z) by screws C threaded in bosses cl of, the cover D. Nuts E prevent the screws frhm being loosened. Two screws C are provided in the example shown but the number may obviously be varied according to the dimensions oi? the door or other considerations. The joint between the cover D and the exhaust belt is made steam-tight and secured by bolts (2.

In the example shown, the cover D is provided with a lip (Z to reinforce the belt YB against any distortion which might otherwise possibly occur at the part weakenedby the mic in which the door is fitted. As the continuity of the belt B is not destroyed by the inspection hole, threaded bolts F sesure the exhaust belt to the cylinder barrel at this part symmetrically with the screws provided at the other parts of the belt.

In large engines the inspection opening may be of suiiicient size to allow a man access to the cylinder.

Where the dimensions are too limited to allow access to the interior of the cylinder, optical means may be used in known manner to illuminate the interior and render the condition of any part visible to the observer by a tube inserted through the opening.

Fig. illustrates the use of optical means for this purpose, in which an electric lamp H carried at the end of a tube I illuminates the interior of the cylinder and rays from any part under observation are reflected from the inclined mirror J along the axis of the tube to the eye of the observer. Obviously, other well known optical devices can he used for this purpose.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. In a steam engine of the uniflow type, a working cylinder having a central exhaust belt having an aperture therein, a seating on the walls of said aperture, a removable closure for said aperture adapted to rest on said seating, a cover external to said closure making a steam tight joint with the cylinder, and means associated with the cover for securing the removable closure on the seating.

2. In a steam engine of the unifiow type, a working cylinder having a central fixed exhaust belt comprising an aperture in said belt the walls of which are provided with a ledge affording a seating, a closure for said aperture having a flange adapted to rest on said ledge, a cover external of said closure provided with screws for locking said closure in place.

3. In a steam engine of the uniflow type, a working cylinder provided with a fixed central exhaust belt having an aperture therein, a removable closure in said aperture, the belt and closure each forming part of the cylinder wall traversed by the engine piston, a seating on the aperture walls adapted to accommodate the removable closure, a second seating on the fixed belt external to the first mentioned seating, a cover secured to said second seating and making a steam-tight joint therewith, and screws in said cover for holding said removable closure in place.

4. In a steam engine of the uniflow type, a working cylinder provided with a central fixed exhaust belt having an aperture therein, a seat in the form of a ledge on the walls of said aperture, a removable member seated on said ledge, said member together with the belt forming continuous parts of the cylinder walls, a lip surrounding the aperture, a cover lying above said aperture and having a flange overhanging said lip, bolts for holding said cover in its steam-tight rela tion to said belt, bosses in said cover, and screws extending through said bosses to hold the closure on said seat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY FILLING.

Witnesses:

THOMAS GIBBON, WM. HORTON. 

